2027 Draft: Linebackers

manxman2601 said:

"Not a lot of people are getting their eyes on (Chris Cole) in the NFL draft process right now. I haven't really seen Chris Cole's name come up too much for next year's linebacker class".

File under 'should be reading Patsfans!'.

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Guys like Cole (and possibly KVA) have tremendous value for me, because they have the potential to link all 3 levels of the defense.

Cole is a rangy midfielder who can play SAM, WILL and MIKE. He is a good tackler, and can go Sideline to sideline. He can spy the QB, and can cover TEs and RBs. A former safety, ge can go 40 yards downfield in coverage. He can blitz or line up on the DL, and led Georgia in sacks last year.

He could end up just being a jack-of-all-trades guy, but if he can excel in just 1 or 2 of these areas and be solid in the others, he will be a stud.

The strikers (Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappe) get most of the headlines, but a Zidane or Maradona is just as valuable.

The Pats were reportedly very interested in Jalon Walker in 2025 and Trey Moore in 2026, so clearly they have an interest in these Swiss army knife defenders.

mayoclinic said:

The strikers (Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappe) get most of the headlines, but a Zidane or Maradona is just as valuable.

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All potential GOATs. I get your point but the comp is a little ambitious. I'd settle for Beckham or Scholes.

Some thoughts, looking at the current Consensus Big Board pre-season LB ratings:

34. Sammy Brown, Clemson
40. Kyngstonn Viliamu-asa, Notre Dame
61. Chris Sullivan, Oklahoma
74. Rasheem Biles, Texas
91. Ben Roberts, Texas Tech
99. Christian Alliegro, Ohio St.
106. Suntarine Perkins. Ole Miss
120. Ray Coney, Texas A&M
142. Austin Romaine, Yrxas Tech
200. Whit Weeks, LSU
231. Chris Cole, Georgia
233. Isaiah Glasker, BYU
239. Owen Heinecke, Oklahoma
285. Tony Rojas, Penn St.
295. Xavier Atkins. Auburn
307. Raylen Wilson, Georgia
316. Arion Carter, Tennessee
692. Sammy Omosighbo, UCLA

My Thoughts:

LB is a prime area of need for the Pats - both MIKE and WILL/SAM - and is seriously undervalued right now.

Sammy Brown, Kyngstonn Viliamu-asa, and #231 Chris Cole are the clear top 3 for me, all 1st round talents. I want one of those 3 to be a Patriot in 2027. Brown could be better than Jacob Rodriguez or CJ Allen. Cole already gets Arvell Reese comps, and I expect him to have a meteoric rise. KVA is coming off an ACL injury, but somewhat similar to Chris Cole. Any could be BPA in late round 1.

Rasheem Biles, Chris Sullivan, Christian Alliegro and Suntarine Perkins don't interest me much at this point. Ben Roberts is a great WILL option, and Ray Coney is my #2 MIKE after Sammy Brown.

Xavier Atkins a possible S convert? Great tape

Arion Carter, Whit Weeks, Isaiah Glasker, Tony Rojas and Sammy Omosighbo all very undervalued right now.

A double dip at LB is a definite possibility.

Safety?

mayoclinic said:

Safety?

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I really like him but don;t know where to play him. I don't know if he has the coverage ability to properly play safety or is he just a pure box safety?

My thoughts exactly.

mayoclinic said:

My thoughts exactly.

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Gunner on special teams and part time LB spy as and when needed?

manxman2601 said:

Gunner on special teams and part time LB spy as and when needed?

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That's the floor?

I agree with you: (1) I really like him, and (2) I don't really know what to do with him.

A late round flier to start on STs as you suggest seems reasonable. He seems like a guy who just might defy the odds.

Clonamery said:

That's the floor?

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At that position and that size, I'm not clear on where the ceiling is. He'll be fun to watch next year.

manxman2601 said:

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Big "yes" to David Stone for me, I will be torn between him, Justin Scott and Will Echoles for the next 9 months.

Yes to KVA as well, but right now ai like Chris Cole even more. Would be thrilled with either.

I'm not on the Matayo Uiagalelei bandwagon, though. Solid power base DE, but not the Droid I'm looking for.

Right now any of LBs Cole/KVA/Brown and DLs Stone/Scott/Echoles are the top of my 1st round options, followed by CB/S.

mayoclinic said:

Big "yes" to David Stone for me, I will be torn between him, Justin Scott and Will Echoles for the next 9 months.

Yes to KVA as well, but right now ai like Chris Cole even more. Would be thrilled with either.

I'm not on the Matayo Uiagalelei bandwagon, though. Solid power base DE, but not the Droid I'm looking for.

Right now any of LBs Cole/KVA/Brown and DLs Stone/Scott/Echoles are the top of my 1st round options, followed by CB/S.

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I was really just posting about the possibility of KVA being another Arvell Reese. The other tweet was just attached.